@eskielover: This definitely gave me a new perspective I was looking for on our relationship. I hope I'll be able to remember this when I'm feeling off. A part of me wishes for more though, or perhaps I want to be the "extreme" of passion in that area. I admit sometimes I think it would be easier if I was with someone who felt the same way that I did about things. But I also know you don't get everything, or all your needs met, in a relationship. Thank you for your input!

@wishfulthinker: I did think a lot about your comment, and I apprecited it. He is for equal rights. He has engaged more with learning about racism and cares/sometimes takes the initiative to learn more now... but I'll admit he grew up not needing to think about this. I want us to share in general social issues passions, but I'm not sure if that's me trying to change him or me bringing out the best in him/us?

@Bill3: These issues have brought up some conflict in the past. He's said some things that have offended me that were born from a lack of full knowledge on the subject. And I guess I took a morally righteous attitude that hurt him too. And sometimes I wonder if he can fully understand me if he can't understand my empathy for others on the same level. I'm a therapist and my work with clients means so much to me. I'm a believer in making a difference to someone's life. He's extremely supportive, but I guess I'm not sure on what level he understands, and sometimes I feel doubt or regret about us because I wish I could share that with my partner. I wonder if I could introduce it to him through volunteering, etc... or if that is me trying to change him and I should accept him the way he is. Maybe I should try to meet this need of two people making a difference in the world with a friend instead. I think part of the problem, if you know about MBTI personality types, is that he is a thinking type, and is very logical. I'm a feeling type and get my sense of meaning from the world through my feelings. So that part of our personalities can never change. Thank you for your questinos to help me reflect on this.

@unaluna: I probably should have more conversations with him about what I want out of life in regards to this value. He has said in the past that he would be willing to volunteer with me, or perhaps to go on a Peace Corps type service trip. But he said he would ideally like it to be something where he could personally benefit as well (such as learning skills through Habitat for Humanity), which to me tells me that he's not taking in the spirit of what these trips are supposed to be about? But I wonder if there is a cause we could both feel passionate about together, and thank you for leading me in that direction.

@MickeyCheeky: Thank you for sharing your thoughts. It makes me feel better that you and some others don't view this as an unsolvable problem. It does make me feel so guilty and awful for even thinking this way about him. But just because he doesn't share the same level of passion doesn't mean we can't still connect more often on caring for others or the world. I/we just have to get more creative with how we'll do that.

@sarahsweets: Thank you, your response really helped me get another new perspective on the situation. He is 100% supportive. He says my empathy for others was one of the main things that drew him to me. He may not choose to do this kind of work himself, but it does matter that he supports me, like your husband. And you're very right-- he hasn't experienced what I have. I have been through a lot of mental health issues, so that is how I developed my passion to help others, like you. So it's not exactly his fault that he never developed that.